BURY’S housing waiting list is being affected by Government inaction over flood cash.

That was the point made by council leader, Cllr Rishi Shori, who called Westminster’s lack of action “an outrage”.

Last week, the Bury Times reported that Bury North MP David Nuttall had asked in parliament why the government has not paid £2.6 million it promised the council for repairs to the local infrastructure damaged in the Boxing Day floods, which hit Radcliffe, Ramsbottom and parts of Bury.

The council has so far received £750,000 from the Department of Transport to help with the repairs, but is still millions of pounds out of pocket. At a Cabinet meeting on October 19, Cllr Sandra Walmsley asked Cllr Shori what he thought about the delay in providing the cash.

Cllr Shori said: “I think it’s an outrage. Some people have still not been able to return home even at this point. What makes it worse is that many of those affected are tenants of Six Town Housing and had to be rehomed and it has led to fewer properties being available. We have got 1,500 people on the housing waiting list in Bury and the delay in receiving this money is bound to affect the list.”

During a House of Commons debate, Mr Nuttall said: “Parts of my constituency were devastated by the Boxing Day floods last year and the council is still struggling to restore the damaged infrastructure.

“They calculate that they still have a £2.6 million shortfall in repairing those damages.

“Will you speak with ministers across Government to see what further help they can provide to speed up the reinstatement process?”

Secretary of State Andrea Leadsom replied: “I completely sympathise with all those who were flooded. It is an appalling thing to happen. Following the Boxing day floods, the Environment Agency carried out £500,000-worth of maintenance work in Bury to remove gravel, debris and blockages.

“A £1.5million flood defence scheme was completed in November 2014, providing better protection for 164 homes and businesses in the Stubbins area of Bury.

“I will, of course, look into the point Mr Nuttall raises about people who are still suffering from the damage done by last winter’s floods.”